Srinagar, Jan 12 (JKNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar to take urgent steps to ensure the safety, security, dignity, and welfare of Indian students, particularly those from the Kashmir Valley, currently pursuing studies in Iran.
The Association said that ongoing disturbances in Iran have left parents of Kashmiri students deeply anxious, with many unable to establish contact with their wards for the past four days, heightening fears about their well-being.
National Convenor of JKSA, Nasir Khuehami, expressed grave concern over the situation of hundreds of Indian students, most of them from Jammu and Kashmir, who are enrolled in MBBS and other professional medical courses in Iran due to affordable education and longstanding academic ties between the two countries.
Khuehami said phone calls are not connecting, messaging services remain inaccessible, and social media platforms—often the only source of reassurance for families—have largely gone silent, causing severe psychological distress among parents.
He further stated that nearly 2,000 Kashmiri students are currently enrolled in various medical universities across Iran and are dependent on local hostels, university facilities, public transport, and civic services, making them particularly vulnerable amid the prevailing unrest. Many students, he said, are feeling unsafe and effectively stranded.
“JKSA is receiving continuous distress calls from students and their families regarding restricted mobility, sporadic internet shutdowns, lack of clear safety advisories, and the absence of visible contingency or evacuation measures,” Khuehami told JKNS.
Seeking immediate action, the Association urged the Prime Minister to direct the Ministry of External Affairs to establish round-the-clock communication channels between Indian students in Iran and the Indian Embassy in Tehran, including dedicated emergency helplines, regular outreach, and timely advisories.
JKSA also called for preparedness of a comprehensive evacuation and contingency plan, warning that if the security situation worsens, timely evacuation could prove lifesaving. “The Government of India must be ready to act swiftly to bring students home safely if circumstances so demand,” Khuehami said.
The Association further appealed to the MEA to closely coordinate with the Indian Embassy in Tehran and engage diplomatically with Iranian authorities to ensure the protection, safety, and dignity of Indian students, urging prompt action to prevent any harm to Indian nationals studying in Iran. (JKNS)
